Mary Earl Heitschmidt

April 23, 1927 - January 3, 2018

Mary Earl Heitschmidt, 90, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away at 12:57 a.m., Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018 while in the company of family, at Harry Hynes Inpatient Unit St. Francis Hospital Wichita, Kansas. Mary was born in James, Texas on April 23, 1927, a daughter of Georgia Ora (Stokley) and Charlie Benjamin Morris. Mary attended and graduated from Longview High School, Longview, Texas. She received her Associate and Bachelors Degree from McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas, and received her Masters Degree from Emporia State Teachers College, Emporia, Kansas. She was a member of First United Methodist Church McPherson, Kansas. Mary was a homemaker and she took great pride in providing for her family in this manner. She also was an elementary school teacher for Countryside School, rural Inman; Elyria grade school, Elyria, and Lincoln grade school of McPherson. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Lambda, Kansas Teachers Association and the NEA. Mary enjoyed serving her Lord and others, reading, traveling, spending time with her grandchildren and family. Mary E. Morris was united in marriage to Morris D. Heitschmidt on June 30, 1946 at Longview, Texas. They established their first home together in Geneseo, Kansas. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of over 71 years Morris Heitschmidt, of McPherson, Kansas; her children, Kathryn Cavalier, of Pampa, Texas, Susan Leahy and husband Robert, of Edmond, Oklahoma, Scott Heitschmidt and wife Sally, of Hutchinson, Kansas, Jill Richards, of Montgomery, Texas, and Todd Heitschmidt and wife Terri, of Abilene, Kansas; her 14 grandchildren, Andy Cavalier and wife Wendy, Tony Cavalier and wife Shannon, Katy Moone and her husband Brian, Abby Hancock and husband Jansen, Kristi Woodard and husband Jason, Jack Leahy and spouse Josh Farmer, Joby Leahy, Ginny Powell and husband Scott, Wil Heitschmidt, Chad Richards, Shelly Gengo, Tracy Richards and husband Nico Frisina, Taylor Heitschmidt, and Trisha Heitschmidt; 24 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Charlie and Georgia Morris; and her two sisters, Valine Moorman and Edith Broadstock. The memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, McPherson, Kansas, at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 6th, 2018 with Reverend Harold Nelson, Reverend Karen Rice-Ratzalff, and Reverend Darren Frazier officiating. Burial will be at a later date at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Manhattan, Kansas. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation for the many prayers and acts of kindness shown to Mary and family during this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice or the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Manhattan, Kansas and they can be sent in care of the Glidden - Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.